Posts by Hillcrest Staff
What Does PTSD Look Like In Teens?
When people hear the term PTSD, they often picture adults who have experienced war, natural disasters, or major accidents. But post-traumatic stress disorder can affect teenagers too—and it doesn’t always look the way parents expect. In teens, PTSD symptoms are often misunderstood or mistaken for typical adolescent behavior. Mood swings, withdrawal, irritability, or risk-taking can…
Read MoreQuestions To Check In On Your Teen’s Mental Health
The teenage years are filled with rapid change—emotionally, socially, and mentally. Teens are navigating academic expectations, friendships, social media, and identity development all at once, often without the tools to fully explain how they’re feeling. For parents, it can be hard to know whether shifts in mood or behavior are typical growing pains or signs…
Read MoreSigns & Symptoms of Anorexia in Teens
Teen years are full of changes—physically, emotionally, and socially. Appetite shifts, body awareness, and mood swings can all be part of normal development. However, when concerns around food, weight, and body image become intense or rigid, they may signal something more serious. Anorexia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder that often begins during adolescence,…
Read MoreHow To Discipline Teens: 10 Parent Tips
Disciplining teenagers can feel like one of the most challenging stages of parenting. Teens are striving for independence, testing boundaries, and navigating intense emotional and developmental changes—all while parents are trying to keep them safe, responsible, and supported. It’s no surprise that many families find themselves asking how to discipline teens effectively without damaging trust…
Read MoreGifts for Teens With Anxiety
Finding the right gifts for teens with anxiety can feel challenging—especially when you want to offer something meaningful, supportive, and genuinely helpful rather than another item that collects dust. Anxiety in teens is more common than many parents and caregivers realize, and it often shows up in ways that affect daily life, confidence, relationships, and…
Read MoreScreen-Free Winter Break Activities That Build Confidence & Connection
Winter break can be a welcome pause from school routines—but for many families, it also brings new challenges. With more unstructured time and fewer daily obligations, teens often default to screens for entertainment, connection, and distraction. While technology has its place, too much screen time can contribute to isolation, low motivation, disrupted sleep, and emotional…
Read MoreTeen Suicide Statistics, Risk Factors & Ways To Find Help
Teen suicide is one of the most heartbreaking—and preventable—public health crises facing families today. Over the past decade, the number of teens reporting severe emotional distress has climbed sharply, and suicide has become one of the leading causes of death among adolescents in the United States. Behind these statistics are young people who are overwhelmed…
Read MoreWhy Is My Teen So Angry? Understanding Teen Anger
If you’ve found yourself asking, “Why is my teen so angry?”, you’re not alone. Many parents feel overwhelmed or confused when their once-easygoing child suddenly becomes irritable, reactive, or distant. Teen anger is a common experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to navigate. Adolescence is a time of dramatic emotional, hormonal, and neurological changes.…
Read MoreHow To Deal With Empty Nest Syndrome: A Guide for Parents
Watching your child grow up and step into independence is one of the greatest milestones of parenthood—but it can also be one of the hardest. When teens move out, go off to college, or enter residential treatment programs, many parents experience a deep sense of loss or emotional emptiness. This experience is known as Empty…
Read MoreWhat to Do If Your Teenager Swears Too Much
Hearing your teenager throw around curse words like everyday vocabulary can feel jarring, frustrating, or even alarming. One moment they’re a child using polite language, and suddenly they’re dropping f-bombs in arguments, group chats, or even around younger siblings. If you’ve found yourself thinking, “Why is my teen swearing so much—and what am I supposed…
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